ICON Summer AI Problem-Solving Studio — project-based student innovation program in Needham, Massachusetts. Supported by Namaste Boston.
ICON Summer AI Problem-Solving Studio
Learn from experts. Choose one real-world problem. Build with AI.
A project-based learning program for high school students in Needham — not an internship. Use AI to understand real-world problems, design practical solutions, and present your ideas with confidence.
Audience
High school students (all coding levels welcome)
Starts
July 12, 2026
Register By
July 7, 2026
Sessions
Sundays 10–11:30 AM
Location
13 Warren St, Needham
Program Summary
ICON Summer AI Problem-Solving Studio is a student innovation program that helps high school students use AI on one real-world problem they choose during expert-led discovery sessions. After Day 1, each student or team continues working on that selected idea through a five-week project arc — from prompts and research to prototyping, feedback, and final presentations.
Students will learn from domain expert volunteers in areas such as Bio, Finance, Robotics, Engineering, AI, Legal, and Community Services. After the discovery sessions, each student or team will choose one real-world problem and spend the remaining weeks developing an AI-powered solution.
Registration deadline: July 7, 2026
Learn from Domain Experts
Domain expert volunteers introduce real-world challenges from Bio, Finance, Robotics, Engineering, AI, Legal, and Community Services before students choose one problem to solve.
Prompt Engineering & Research
Write better prompts, use AI for brainstorming and research, and learn to check answers for accuracy and safety.
Build, Test & Present
Choose a no-code, low-code, or coding track to build a prototype, improve it with feedback, and present your solution.
Expert-Led Discovery Sessions
Community volunteers and professionals will introduce students to real-world challenges from their fields. These sessions are designed to help students discover a meaningful problem before beginning their AI project.
Five-Week Curriculum
Project-first, not theory-first. Each week builds toward a prototype and final presentation.
AI Basics & Prompt Engineering
What AI can and cannot do, writing strong prompts, responsible use, privacy, and using AI for research and planning.
Student output: Problem statement and a prompt library for your chosen domain.
Problem Research & Solution Design
Understanding users, researching the problem with AI, comparing solutions, and defining risks and limitations.
Student output: One-page project plan with problem, users, proposed AI solution, and expected benefit.
Build a Simple Prototype
No-code (presentations, mockups, workflows), low-code (Replit, Streamlit), or coding track (Python tools, assistants).
Student output: First prototype, mockup, demo, or workflow.
Test & Improve
User feedback, improving prompts, handling bias and limitations, and refining the solution.
Student output: Improved prototype and updated solution summary.
Final Presentation
Presenting technical ideas clearly — problem, demo, what you learned, and next steps.
Student output: Final presentation to mentors and peers.
Prototype Tracks
Students choose the track that fits their experience — all paths lead to a demo or presentation.
No-Code
Canva deck, Figma mockup, Google Form workflow, chatbot script, slide-based demo
Low-Code
Simple website, calculator, dashboard, Replit app, or Streamlit prototype
Coding
Python tool, domain-specific assistant, or simple data analysis app (optional advanced track)
Schedule Overview
Day 1 is a longer Domain Discovery Day. Remaining sessions meet on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at 13 Warren St, Needham.
| Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Sunday, July 12, 2026 | Extended Domain Discovery Day Expert-led sessions — includes lunch; share allergies when registering |
| Weekly Sessions | Sundays after July 12 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Final dates shared before the program begins |
Domain Discovery Day
On Sunday, July 12, students participate in an extended Domain Discovery Day led by domain expert volunteers. This kickoff introduces fields such as Bio, Finance, Robotics, Engineering, AI, Legal, and Community Services, helps students identify problems they care about, and sets the foundation for choosing one problem to pursue during the project weeks. Lunch is provided — please note any food allergies in the registration form.
After discovery sessions, each student or team selects one real-world problem and continues developing their AI-powered solution through the remaining weekly sessions.
FAQ
Who is this program for?
High school students who want hands-on experience using AI on real-world problems. No prior AI or coding expertise is required — curiosity and willingness to learn matter most. Students with stronger technical backgrounds can pursue optional advanced tracks with mentors.
Is this an internship?
No. This is a project-first student learning program focused on AI problem-solving, research, prototyping, and presentations — not a corporate internship or job placement.
Do I need to know how to code?
Not necessarily. The program is designed for mixed experience levels. Students can choose a no-code, low-code, or coding prototype track. Deep topics like PyTorch or neural networks are optional stretch material for advanced students, not required for everyone.
What happens on Day 1?
Day 1 is our extended Domain Discovery Day on Sunday, July 12. Students learn from domain expert volunteers, explore multiple fields, identify problems they care about, and choose one real-world problem to pursue during the project weeks. Lunch is included — please share any food allergies or restrictions when registering.
How do I pay the program fee?
The program fee is $50 per student. Please bring a check payable to ICON on Day 1. Online payment is not required at registration.
What is the weekly schedule?
After Day 1, sessions meet on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at 13 Warren St, Needham. The five-week arc moves from AI basics and prompts to research, prototyping, testing, and final presentations.
When is the registration deadline?
Please register by July 7, 2026 to reserve a seat. Spots are limited and registration interest is processed in the order received.
How do I get in touch?
Contact Sanjeev Jha at sanjeev.jha@iconeedham.org with any questions about the program, schedule, or registration.
$50 per student
Bring a $50 check payable to ICON on Day 1
Register by July 7, 2026
Register Interest / Reserve SeatQuestions? sanjeev.jha@iconeedham.org
Reserve Your Seat
Complete the form below to register interest. Registration deadline is July 7, 2026. You will receive a confirmation email with program details and payment instructions.